GHSA State Championship Preview: 3A-2A

<h2><strong>Class 3A</strong></h2> <h4><strong>No. 3 Beach (22-9) vs. No. 4 GAC (19-12)</strong></h4> It’s not the Savannah team everyone may have expected to get to Macon, but here we are, another year and another team from the coast has an opportunity to win a state title as Beach romped North Hall 52-31 while GAC stunned the two-time defending state champs Johnson-Savannah 52-50. The last time Savannah didn’t have a dog in the fight was 2016. Since then, Johnson and Beach have taken turns winning titles. With nine losses, four coming via Johnson, Beach is back in the state title game even after losing last season’s leading scorer <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jaida-burgess/">Jaida Burgess</a> to the Atomsmashers. Coach Olufemi Gordon has leaned on her experienced backcourt of <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kaila-rougier/">Kaila Rougier</a> (15.3 ppg) and Region 3 Co-Player of the Year <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/madison-evans/">Madison Evans</a> (12.3 ppg) to lead the Bulldogs. They will get a dose of GAC’s electric young backcourt paced by sophomore <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kaleigh-addie/">Kaleigh Addie</a>, who averages 21 points per game and hit up Johnson for 22. Fellow sophomore Jaci Bolden scored 13 points while senior Ava Irvin had 14 in the Final 4 win. 6-foot sophomore Molly Pritchard is a sturdy rebounder that averages 10.7 boards a night. With 12 losses, GAC has played hands down the toughest schedule in the state which has prepared them for the postseason. Out of their 12 losses, only Brookwood, who beat them twice and made the Elite 8 in Class 7A, wasn’t ranked this season. <h2><strong>Class 2A</strong></h2> <h4><strong>No. 1 Douglass (25-5) vs. No. 6 Southwest-Macon (25-3)</strong></h4> Douglass won their state title rematch vs. Early County behind possibly their best shooting performance of the year. The Lady Astros drilled seven threes to edge the Bobcats 53-49, surviving a triple-double from <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/makayla-timpson/">Makayla Timpson</a>. Kayla Sesberry (18), Ashley McKee (15) and <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/ashuntee-weems/">Ashuntee Weems</a> (12) powered the offense. Southwest-Macon pulled out a miracle against Rockmart, finishing the game on a 19-6 run including a last second <strong>Stangious Alford</strong> bucket to complete the 54-52 comeback. The tenacious forward finished with 23 points, 19 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals and 2 blocks. 6-foot senior <strong>Avrie Grayer</strong> collected 15 points, 19 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 6 blocks. The Patriots will have to play much better if they want to beat the Astros. Southwest-Macon missed countless layups throughout the game before digging deep to escape <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/keyarah-berry/">Keyarah Berry</a>. When they are clicking, the Patriots move the ball well on offense. They play hard and hit the glass with Alford and Grayer. <strong>Shygeria William</strong>s hit a pair of threes in the win to finish with 10 points. Region 3 Defensive Player of the Year J<strong>a’Khyla Johnson</strong> will need a bounce back performance after fouling out with just two points. It will be interesting to see how well Southwest-Macon rebounds against 6-foot-3 <strong>Ikenya King</strong>. Also, will Douglass be able to keep up their hot outside shooting?